The district surrounding Rua 25 de Março has long been synonymous in Brazil with large crowds and discount shopping.

[1] Waves of Middle Eastern immigrants arrived at the port and settled in the area during the latter half of the nineteenth century.

The resulting necessity to sell large quantities of inventory quickly and at deep discounts established Rua 25 de Março's reputation as a center for wholesale pricing.

[1] By the 1980s other immigrant communities from Korea, China, Greece, and Portugal began to open up shops on 25 de Março and neighboring streets.

Brazil taxes on electronics are high, but these items can be found on 25 de Março for relatively low prices.